Tank



G. E. TILEY Jan. 28, 1930.

TANK

Filed Feb. 4, 1929 INVENTQR Georye 5 77/ey BY md ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE EDWARD TI LEY, OF WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL CHEMI- CAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TANK Application filed February 4, 1929. Serial No. 337,266.

This invention relates to tanks and more particularly to rubber, or other non-corrodible material, lined metallic tank s adapted to be used for storage or transportation of corrodible substances, particularly liquids such as hydrochloric acid and is primarily concerned with the means for emptying or unloading such tanks.

One object of this invention is to provide a rubber, or other non-corrodible material lined tank, with discharging mechanism which can readily be assembled and through which, by means of compressed air, the contents of the tank may be discharged to a container located above, below, or on the same level with the tank. Another object is to provide such tanks with a discharging mechanism which permits substantially unobstructed fiow of material therethrough and which is sturdy and reliable in construction, can be economically fabricated, is not deleteriously affected by the contents of the tank and will withstand the shocks and stresses imparted thereto, as for example when the tank is supported on rolling stock and is subjected to stoppage and starting in its journey from one place to another.

Rubber-lined tanks, such as the tanks of tank cars, have heretofore been provided with a sump or depression formed in the base portion and a discharge pipe or main having the lower end positioned directly above this sump and the upper end flanged and secured to the top surface of the tank. Upon application of air pressure to the interior of the tank, at a suitable point, the contents thereof would pass up through this discharge pipe into a second' pipe having one end connected to the flanged top of the discharge pipe and having the other end leading into a container into which it is desired to'discharge the contents of the tank. To support the lower end of the aforementioned discharge pipe a rubber covered casting extending from the floor of the tank and secured to the side of the discharge pipe was utilized. Such a structure possesses many disadvantages, among which may be enumerated the following: The casting interfereswith and impedes the, flow of material into the sump. The discharge pipe being se- 9 v cured to the casting, which in turn is secured to the tank, jars and stresses imparted to the tank are in turn imparted to the pipe, causing impairment thereof. Replacementof the discharge pipe can only be accomplished by entering the tank, disconnecting the pipe from the casting and accurately and carefully guiding and positioning the replaced pipe. This procedure may result'in injury to the lining of the tank by the entry thereinto, and in view of the nature of the usual contents of such tank, this procedure usually involves a considerable loss of time which must be spent in washing and conditioning the tank to permit safe entry thereinto.

According to my invention an improved, efficient' and satisfactory discharging mechanism which overcomes the disadvantages above mentioned, is provided. A spider or other non-corrodible pluglike member which functions to align and maintain in position one end of the discharge pipe, is, in accordance with this invention, positioned in the sump of the tank. This spider has or is formed with an upper truncated conical end portion, and with a cylindrical hole passing therethrough of slightly greater diameter than the external diameter of thedischarge pipe to provide a slight unobstructed clearance between the external circumferential surface of-the discharge pipe and the interior Wall of the hole. An enlarged opening of conical configuration'is formed in the top of the plug, the lower portion of this opening being of the same diameter as the cylindrical central hole, the top of the latter hole coinciding with the bottom of the conical opening. The side portion of the spider is formed of the same contour as the interior surface of the sump, and therefore, it snugly fits within the interior surface of the sump. ()ne or more enlarged passages are formed in the peripheral side portions of the spider by cutting away or otherwise removing a substantial portion of the side wall and top conical collar portion. Thus when the spider is inserted in the sump, unobstructed passage or passages of substantial size, permitting flow of material into the sump, are provided. The dis charge pipe has one end extending into the central cylindrical opening, terminating at a point a slight distance above the lower end of this openin so that a substantial portion of the lower end of the pipe is positioned within this cylindrical opening. The other end of the pipe extends through the top tank wall. According to this invention, the discharge pipe extends a substantial distance above the top of the tank and is formed with a flanged top which is arranged to receive either a closure late or the end of a pipe or hose through whic material to be discharged is passed into the desired container when the tank is being emptied.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a view in sectional elevation of a lined tank illustrating a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the sump and spider positioned therein and showing a portion of the base of the tank and portion of the discharge pipe extending within the spider; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a sump or bowl and spider positioned therein.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a lined tank of the type that may be supported on rolling stock, the lining 2 of the tank being of rubber or other non-corrodible material so that it serves as a protective coating for the metal walls of the tank against acid or other corrodible materials placed therein. The tank is. of usual metal construction having surmounted a dome 3 provided with a port 4 for the injection of compressed air, a port 5, the function of which will be hereinafter explained, and having in the base thereof, preferably positioned substantially intermediate the ends of the tank. a sump, catch basin or siphon bowl 6 of spherical outline. This sump is positioned to permit the entire contents of the tank to drain thereinto when the contents of the tank is being discharged.

According-to this invention the sump 6 is lined with thick rubber, preferably inch thick, this lining 7 covering the entire interior surface of the sump and extending over the heads of the rivets 8 securing the sump to the tank. A thick rubber reinforcing mat 10 extending from the lining 7 of the sump 6 is positioned to cover a substan tial portion of the.lining 2 for the tank 1 contiguous to the sump 6. Positioned in the lined sump is a spider or plug member 9 of solid rubber or other non-corrodible material. The spider is of substantial thickness and preferably consists of a spherical side portion 11, a truncated conical collar portion 12, a top portion and a base portion. The

top portion is provided with a conical opening 15, the cross-sectional portion of greatest diameter of opening 15 being positioned at the top of the spider. Extending from the base of opening 15 is a cylindrical central opening 16, the axis of which preferably coincides with the longitudinal axis of the spider. The opening 16 leads into the opening 17 of conical shape. Side 11 and the truncated conical portion 12 of the spider are formed with one or more passages 18, which preferably are semi-elliptical in shape and are positioned in the peripheral surface so that a substantial part of the portions 11 and 12 are removed, leaving a wall 19 where the passages 18 occur to define the cylindrical opening 16. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, three passages 18 are provided, thus in effect forming a spider having solid rubber vanes 21 separated by passages 18. Passages 18 may be considered as defined or outlined by the inner lined wall of the sump 6, wall 19 and the sides of the vanes 21.

The spider is preferably securely fastened in the sump 6 by rubber retaining V-shaped strips 24 having one arm cemented or otherwise secured to the top conical portion and having the other arm secured to the lining 7 as shown in Fig. 2.

A discharge pipe 25 has one end 26 flanged and arranged to have bolted or otherwise secured thereto a hose or main leading to a vessel into which it is desired to discharge the contents of the tank. This end of pipe 25 when not in operation is closed by a closure plate 22. Pipe 25 extends through port 5 to a point clear and above the port 5 and also extends vertically downward through the tank. This pipe may be of steel or other metal and is sheathed with rubber or other protective material. The end 30 of this pipe is positioned in the cylindrical opening 16 of the spider 9, so that theaxis of the pipe substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of this opening, the opening being somewhat greater in diameter than the diameter of the pipe to provide a. clearance space 31 between the walls of the opening and the a external circumferential surface of the pipe.

The pipe extends a considerable distance into the opening 16 which it will be noted is quite long (approximately 5 inches or more), the extreme end of the pipe terminating about two inches above the base of the sump and slightly above the lower end of opening 16. Accordingly, the lower end of pipe 25 is accurately aligned by the opening 16 and inasmuch as a considerable length of the pipe is concentrically positioned in the long open- 1n 16, danger of displacing, tipping or cocking of the pipe is eliminated. Also an effective cushion for the pipe is thus formed. It will be noted that during the discharging operation, compressed air being applied to port 4, in accordance with this invention,

substantially unobstructed flow of material through the assages 18 into the sump.6 takes place. imilarly, if the contents of the tank is siphoned through pipe 25 passages 18 permit unobstructed flowof material therethrough into sump 6. Due to the size and position of the passages 18 and central opening 16 swelling of the rubber or the presence of foreign matter which may find its way into the tank will not impede the flow of material into the sump. Further, by the provision of the enlarged guide opening 16 and in view of the fact that the lower end of the pipe is not secured in or to the spider but is permitted free vertical movement in opening 16, the pipe can readily be withdrawn and replaced from the exterior of the tank and without the necessity of entering the tank. The enlarged opening 15 serves to guide the pipe into position and by inserting the pipe through port 5 and watching its descent exteriorly of the tank as through port 4 or other opening in the tank, the pipe can readily be inserted in the opening 16 in the spider. Also the clearance space 31 between the spider and the discharge pipe 25 prevents many of the jars and stresses imparted to the tank from being transmitted to the discharge pipe. Due to the length of the pipe extending into open ing 16 in the spider, danger of tipping or displacing the, spider from its seat in the sump by accidental movement of the pipe is eliminated.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention is described and shown herein, it will be understood that various changes in the details thereof may .be made by those skilled in the art and accordingly this invention is not to be limited to the disclosure herein but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tank having a sump in the base thereof a member positioned in said sump and having a central opening therethrough and provided with passages in the sides thereof and a pipe having one end positioned in said central opening so as to provide an unobstructed clearance space between the walls of said opening and the peripheral surface of said pipe. v

2. In a tank having a sump in the base thereof, a non-corrodible member thickened at its central portion and having the side portion of the same contour as the interior of said sump, a portion of the sides of said member having an unobstructed passage therethrough into said sump, said member having a cylindrical opening extending therethrough and a pipe having one end passing through said tank and the other end positioned in said cylindrical opening so as to provide a clearance space between the exterior circumferential surface of said pipe ing passing therethrough, an

and the walls of said opening, the said other endof said pipe terminating-above the lower end of said cylindrical opening.

3. In a lined tank having a sump in the base thereof, a non-corrodible member thickened at its central portion and having the side portion of the same contour as the interior of said sump, a portion of the sides of. said member being removed to provide an unobstructed passage therethrough into said sump, said member having a cylindrical opening extending therethrough and a pipe having one end passing through said tank and the other end positioned in said cylindrical opening so as to provide a clearance space between the exterior circumferential surface of said pipe and the walls of said opening, the said other end of said pipe terminating above the lower end of said cylindrical opening, said member having a guiding opening positioned above said cylindrical opening and leading thereinto to facilitate the insertion of said pipe in said cylindrical opening.

4. In a tank having a sump in the base thereof, a rubber plug for said sump, said plug having an opening therethrough and having a passage in the side thereof, and a pipe extending into said opening and positio'ned to provide an unobstructed clearance space between the external surface of said pipe and the wall of the opening.

terminating adjacent the said rubber lining for said sump, and a side surface fitting snugly Within said sump, the side surface having peripheral passages permitting the flow of material therethrough into said sump and retaining rubber strips secured to said top surface of said member and to said rub ber lining for said sump.

6. In a rubber lined tank having a sump in the base thereof, a rubber lining for said sump, a rubber plug fitted within said sump, said plug having a central cylindrical openinclined top surface terminating adjacent the rubber lining for said sump and a side surface fitting snugly within said sump, said side surface having a plurality of passages extending from the top to the bottom of said plug and in effect dividing the plug into vanes and V-shaped retaining rubber strips secured to the top surface of said vanes and to the lining of said sump.

7. In a rubber lined tank having a sump in the base thereof, a rubber lining for said sump, a rubber plug fitted within said sump, said plug having a central cylindrical opening passing therethrough, an inclined top surface terminating adjacent the rubber lining for said sump and a side surface fitting snugly within said sump, said side surface being formed with a plurality of passages extending from the top to the bottom of said plug and in effect dividing the plug into vanes, V-shape-d retaining rubber strips secured to the top surface of said vanes and to the lining of said sump, a pipe extending into said central opening and positioned to provide an unobstructed clearance space between the external surface of said pipe and the walls of said opening. 7

8. In a rubber lined tank having a rubber lined sump in the base thereof, a spider thickened at its central portion and having the side portion of the same contour as the interior of said sump positioned within said sump, said spider having a portion of the sides removed to provide unobstructed passages therethrough into said sum and having a cylindrical opening exten ing therethrough, and a rubber lined pipe having one end passing through said tank and having the other end positioned in said cylindrical opening so as to provide a clearance space between the outer surface of said'pipe and the walls of said opening, the end of said pipe terminating above the lower end of said cylindrical opening.

9. In a rubber lined tank having a sump in the base thereof, a rubber lining for said sump, a rubber plug fitted within said sump, said plug having a central cylindrical opening passing therethrough, an inclined top surface terminating adjacent the rubber lining and a side surface fitting snugly within said sump, said side surface being formed with a plurality of passages extendin from 1 the top to the bottom of said plug and in effect dividing the plug into vanes, V-shaped retaining rubber strips secured to the top surface of said vanes and to the lining of said sump, a rubber lined pipe having one end extending into said central opening terminating short of the lower end thereof and the other endextending above the top of the tank and means on said other end for secur-' ing a discharge pipe thereto.

10. In a rubber lined tank having a rubber lined sump in the base thereof, a spider thickened at its central portion and having the side portion of the same contour as the interior of said sump positioned within said sump, said spider having a cylindrical opening extending therethrough, an enlarged guiding opening in its top leading into said cylindrical opening and a portion of the sides removed to provide unobstructed passages therethrough into said sump and a rubber lined pipe having one end passing through said tank and extending above the top surface thereof and having the other end positioned in said cylindrical opening so as to provide a clearance space between the outer surface of said ipe and the walls of said opening, the sai other end of said pipe terextends.

GEORGE EDWARD TILEY. 

